ChiLumi - Crimson Tides of love

45

The morning sun streamed through the window of the Kamisato Estate, casting a warm, golden hue over everything it touched. Lumine lay nestled in the soft sheets, still enveloped in the remnants of dreams, her heart fluttering in time with the memories of the night they had shared a week and a half prior. It was a night that had ignited passion and vulnerability in equal measure, where the boundaries of their relationship blurred beautifully.

As she stirred awake, she felt a familiar presence beside her. Childe was propped on one elbow, a lazy grin on his face that could make even the toughest of moments feel light-hearted. His blue hair was tousled, and for a fleeting moment, she took a moment to memorize the sight before them—an image forever etched in her mind.

"Morning Girlie," he said, his voice a low murmur, laced with the remnants of sleep. "You looked troubled in your dreams."

Lumine turned to him fully, her heart warm but her brow furrowed. "Just... thinking about everything. Us. Last week."

Childe's expression shifted; his playful demeanor gave way to one of seriousness. "What's on your mind?"

He was always so perceptive, and she often found it hard to lie to him. "I guess... I wonder why someone like you would choose to be with someone like me. You're a harbinger. You have so much power, so much responsibility. It feels... complicated."

His brow furrowed slightly as he propped himself up, attention fully on her. "Lumine, you're not just anyone to me. You've seen parts of me that no one else has. I don't... I can't just let anyone into my world like that."

She inhaled deeply, recalling the heated moments spent in his chamber—the way he had taken her in his arms, each kiss igniting something deep within her. "But that night... It was special, wasn't it?"

"More than you know," he admitted, his gaze unwavering. "And I don't just sleep with anyone. I've turned away countless offers from all sorts of people because... because you are different. Because I want to protect you, Lumine."

"Protect me?" she echoed, a mix of insecurity and curiosity threading through her voice. "But how can I be sure? You have enemies, and you're in such a dangerous position. What if..."

"What if I'm just playing at this?" Childe interrupted gently, a smile softening the edges of his intensity. "I know people are wary of me. I've done terrible things, but that doesn't mean I can't care deeply for someone. I've shown you my truth, haven't I? The part of me that wants to fight for you, not just in battle but in life."

"Sometimes I doubt what I don't fully understand," she confessed, sitting up, her heart racing. "Doubt your love—or even your intentions. No one has ever been so fiercely devoted to me before, and it terrifies me."

Childe reached out, his hand tangling with hers. "You need to believe me, Lumine. I can't just say it; I need to show you. Every moment, every fight—everything I do is to make sure you're safe and happy. Being a harbinger does not define what I feel for you."

Lumine searched his eyes, looking for signs of dishonesty, but all she found was sincerity. In that moment, her doubts started to untangle, like threads coming loose from a tightly woven fabric. "I... It's just that sometimes I feel unworthy. Like you could have anyone else."

"Anyone else isn't you," he replied firmly, squeezing her hand. "You're the one who captivates me—the one who makes my heart race and my thoughts chaotic in the best way possible. Whatever else I am, remember this: I choose you."

Lumine's breath caught in her throat. A warm blush heated her cheeks, and she felt a flicker of newfound strength push away the fear clinging to her heart. "Then I'll try to trust, even if the path is uncertain."